CEDAS in Action this Month with BeauTIFul Beginnings and Main Streets
10/15/2015
On September 11, Connecticut Main Street Center hosted a Downtown Revitalization Institute called “BeauTIFul Beginnings,” meant to introduce important changes to the Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) legislation in Connecticut, made possible in part by CEDAS-supported legislation this year. Highlights included case studies from Maine and Iowa, leaders in TIF-lead revitalization of downtowns and city centers, as well as breakout sessions focused on creating TIF district plans. Materials from the conference can be found here.
Above: Jim Thompson, Main Street Iowa, highlights successful districts/projects and strategies for attracting investors.
On September 29th CEDAS, in partnership with CT Main Street Center,hosted the CEDAS 3rd Quarterly Meeting - “Vibrant Downtowns: Schools, Tools, and the Arts.” The event took place in Fairfield.
Organized with Fairfield’s Economic Development Director and CEDAS Treasurer, Mark Barnhart, members were treated to a first-hand look at what makes downtown Fairfield a vibrant and diverse center that attracts students, residents, workers, and visitors by incorporating arts, culture, retail and restaurant attractions, transportation, green space and more. The event also highlighted how the downtown has partnered with local universities to draw students and faculty off-campus, and ongoing efforts to utilize historic buildings to create a vibrant place at the heart of Fairfield.
Top left: Fairfield Theater Company Sponsors; Top right: Act setting up at the Warehouse; Middle: First Selectman Mike Tetreau welcomes CEDAS to Fairfield's newest attraction - the "Warehouse" arts venue; Bottom left: FTC visioning board; Bottom right: "FUEL" - Fairfield University's incubator.
During the visit, CEDAS members visited the newly- established Fairfield Theater Company, including its newest space called “The Warehouse” – the region’s newest live music and performance venue that has opened to a full calendar and terrific success, and is made possible through a unique funding model and partnership with the Town of Fairfield. It also included a stop at the Fairfield University Bookstore (formerly a Borders) and the newly re-named” FUEL” (formerly FAME) incubator which is supporting entrepreneurs working and living in Fairfield.
Stay tuned for exciting updates from the upcoming months, including highlights from the IEDC conference in Alaska!
